->'''Don Pedro:''' Officers, what offence have these men done?->'''Dogberry:''' Marry, sir, they have committed false report; moreover, they have spoken untruths; secondarily, they are slanders; sixth and lastly, they have belied a lady; thirdly, they have verified unjust things; and, to conclude, they are lying knaves.-->-- ''Theatre/MuchAdoAboutNothing'' V.i

Welcome to Wiki/TVTropes. The two things to remember are: Administrivia/ThereIsNoSuchThingAsNotability, "X. Just X." won't cut it, beware duplicate tropes... OhCrap. START over! Welcome to Wiki/TVTropes. The three things to remember are: Administrivia/ThereIsNoSuchThingAsNotability, "X. Just X." won't cut it, beware duplicate tropes, be careful if a topic might be FlameBait... [[RuleOfThree START OVER]]! Welcome to Wiki/TVTropes. The four, no, AMONGST the things to remember are: There Is No Such Flame As Thingability, Trope Just X won't cut... [[Series/MontyPythonsFlyingCircus I'll come in again.]]

A character tries to present things in some kind of organized fashion, but they screw up or change their mind about the organization partway through.

This is almost inevitably played for comic effect. Often it is used to portray a character as being A. Pompous, IV. Both. 2. Absentminded or

Compare {{Metaphorgotten}}.----!!Examples

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[[folder:Comics]]* Everett K. Ross from ''ComicBook/BlackPanther'' seems constitutionally incapable of telling a story in a linear fashion.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Film]]* ''Film/HomeAlone'':-->'''Megan [=McCallister=]:''' You're not at all worried that something might happen to Kevin?-->'''Buzz [=McCallister=]:''' No, for three reasons: A, I'm not that lucky. Two, we use smoke detectors and D, we live on the most boring street in the whole United States of America, where [[NothingExcitingEverHappensHere nothing even remotely dangerous will ever happen]]. [[TemptingFate Period!]]* Col. Chamberlain in ''Film/{{Gettysburg}}'', not so much for comedic effect, as it is also an effective RousingSpeech, but to hammer home just how awkward and out of place he is.* From the ''Film/DudleyDoRight'' film:-->'''Dudley''': I should just go down there and arrest them all!-->'''Darling''': I'll give you three reasons why you shouldn't! ...and I'd like to start with the second one first, if that's alright with you.* ''Film/TheGodfather'' has Luca Brasi's speech expressing his gratitude to Don Vito Corleone. He's so nervous he's seen rehearsing it beforehand, and still fumbles over it when he actually speaks to Vito.* In Film/BatmanVSupermanDawnOfJustice, [[Comicbook/LexLuthor Lex's]] speech at the Library Gala. It starts off well but soon becomes derailed as Lex's own philosophical musings and psychosis begin to rear their head, causing Lex to quickly cut himself off.--> '''Lex Luthor''': Books are knowledge. And I am... No. I, emm, no, what am I? What was I saying? No. The bittersweet pain among men is having knowledge with no power... because that is [[SuddenlyShouting PARADOXICAL]]! And, uh... (nervous laugh)... thank you for coming.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]* In ''Literature/SkulduggeryPleasant'', Skulduggery insists he used to be a great speaker, but the only speeches we ever hear from him either fail, or fail [[EpicFail epically]].-->"I seem to have lost track of this speech, I'm not sure where it's going, but I know where it started and that's what I want you to remember. Has anyone seen my hat?"** Vaurien Scapegrace is also bad at speeches, but he's a comic relief character, so that's to be expected.-->"I have looked into the eyes of our foes! Do you know what I have seen? Faces and eyes, gentlemen. Faces... and eyes."* Creator/BenedictCumberbatch's introduction to the Tie-in Edition of ''Series/{{Sherlock}}'''s ''[[http://deareje.tumblr.com/post/19734459414/introduction-to-the-tie-in-edition-of-sherlock-the Hound of the Baskervilles]]''-->"Was that all right? Can I do it again? What do you mean it's not like filming...? OH!"* Solomon's list of seven things God hates in Literature/TheBible (Proverbs 6:16-19) begins:-->"There are six things that Jehovah does hate; yes, seven are things detestable to his soul."* The title alone of Creator/SteveMartin's book, ''The Ten, Make That Nine, Habits of Very Organized People. Make That Ten.''[[/folder]]

[[folder:Live-Action TV]]* In ''Series/DoctorWho'', the Tenth Doctor does this periodically:** In "Human Nature":--->'''Doctor:''' Martha, before I change here's a list of instructions for when I'm human. One, don't let me hurt anyone. We can't have that, but you know what humans are like. Two, don't worry about the TARDIS, I'll put it on emergency power so they can't detect it, just let it hide away. Four -- no, wait a minute, three. No getting involved in big historical events.*** Even better is the extended version (including a bit in the middle for the regular episode to fast-forward through) when David Tennant just babbles on, managing to stay completely in character... even though he starts talking about [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rW1x2TmIq8s&NR=1 pears.]]** In "Voyage of the Damned":--->'''Doctor:''' First things first. One: We are going to climb through this ship. B ... No. Two: We are going to reach the bridge. Three, or C: We are going to save the ''Titanic''. And, coming in a very low four, or D, or that little (iv) in brackets they use in footnotes: Why?** "Blink" gets it down to basics:--->"Listen, gotta dash. Things -- happening. Well -- four things. Well -- four things [[NoodleImplements and a lizard]]."* One of the central jokes in the Spanish Inquisition sketch on ''Series/MontyPythonsFlyingCircus'':-->"Our chief weapon is surprise...surprise and fear...fear and surprise.... our two weapons are fear and surprise...and ruthless efficiency.... Our three weapons are fear, surprise, and ruthless efficiency...and an almost fanatical devotion to the Pope.... Our four...no... amongst our weapons.... amongst our weaponry...are such elements as fear, surprise.... I'll come in again."* Lilly on ''Series/HannahMontana'':-->"Okay. First, Miley? Stupid name. B, I've already got friends and cuatro, why don't you go back to the trailer park, unhitch and drive away?"* ''Series/SportsNight'' played with this trope:-->'''Casey:''' How am I conversationally anal-retentive?-->'''Dana:''' Let me answer that question in four parts, with the fourth part first and the third part last. The second part has five subjects ---->'''Casey:''' All right, all right.* The ''Series/StargateAtlantis'' episode "Letters from Pegasus" has various characters' funny, tear-jerking and heartwarming letters intercut with Rodney [=McKay=] sleep-deprived and babbling about who knows what. Every few sentences he'll stop and tell Ford (who was editing the videos they were sending home) to cut whatever he'd just said and start over. [[spoiler: In the very end, he remembers his sister and gets his act together long enough to send a really touching message to her.]]** Also a CrowningMomentOfFunny, as he keeps percolating back to "Where was I? Oh yes...leadership."* ''Series/MadAboutYou'' had a recurring joke where Paul would make a rambling speech where he would make his points as "Okay, A... and 2...".* In ''Series/WhoseLineIsItAnyway'':** During a playing of the Millionaire Show game, Greg Proops accidentally messes up when giving out the multiple choice answers:--->'''Greg:''' When you eat pig, it is called A: Pork, B: That farshtunken neighbor of mine, 3:... [Pause.] Sometimes I change from C to 3.** Another playing of the same game has Colin listing the choices under A, C, C and D. Ryan does not let this go without comment.* Ricky in the Series/TrailerParkBoys episode "Take Your Little Gun and Get Out of My Trailer Park" gives this quick breakdown of the situation to the documentary crew:--> '''Ricky''': Me and Julian can definitely take care of the Cyrus thing, it's just like number one: we're on probation. I don't really think that it's a big deal, but I just don't want to go back to jail again. And number two or three or whatever number I'm on: I'm not going back to jail for Julian because I don't even hang around with him anymore.* In ''Series/TheITCrowd'', when everyone thinks Jen has died, Denholm pulls one when giving a eulogy:--> '''Denholm''': God I miss Jen. She reminded me of me at her age. ({{beat}}) I mean, when I was her age, she reminded me of her age. (beat) She reminded me of my age at her age. (beat) When I was her age, she was ''reminded of me?''[[/folder]]

[[folder:Music]]* At a 1965 live performance of Peter, Paul and Mary their rendition of "Puff the Magic Dragon" was prefaced by Paul giving a pompous pretend speech about dragons. After stumbling and starting over several times, he ended up referring to dragons as having "four separate and distinct nostrils and one monstrous scale...with thousands of tiny legs?"[[/folder]]

[[folder:Theater]]* In Creator/WilliamShakespeare's ''Theatre/MuchAdoAboutNothing'', Act V Scene 1, Dogberry has an extremely convoluted version of this, crossed with ShapedLikeItself:-->'''Dogberry:''' Marry, sir, they have committed false report; moreover, they have spoken untruths; secondarily, they are slanders; sixth and lastly, they have belied a lady; thirdly, they have verified unjust things; and, to conclude, they are lying knaves.* In ''Theatre/TheCompleteWorksOfWilliamShakespeareAbridged'', one of the players literally gets his outline (in this case, [[CueCard speech card]]s) disorganized. He starts off giving historical information about a play... and ends up giving the life story of UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler.* Sganarelle has trouble presenting a persuasive argument several times over the course of Moliere's ''Don Juan''. One of his longer speeches comes near the end, when Don Juan has finally crossed the line and Sganarelle is desperate to convince him to repent (this is paraphrased from memory):-->'''Sganarelle (grasping for a way to put it):''' Man is in the way like... a bird on a branch. The branch is attached to the tree. Whoever attaches himself to the tree follows good precepts. [and a long speech later] The old love riches. Riches make one rich. The rich are not poor. The poor know desperation. Those who are desperate act like brute beasts. ''You'', sir, act like a brute beast, and because of that you'll be damned to all the devils in Hell!-->''Don Juan looks on amusedly.''-->'''Sganarelle:''' If you don't repent after all that, I don't know what I can say to convince you.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Video Games]]* ''Robin & Orchid'':-->'''Casey:''' No wait, I've got one more thing to say. Make sure you take lots of pictures, obviously. It's your job. That's one. Um, it's more fun if you run off by yourself, so make sure you get Sharon off your back. That's two. And keep an open mind. I mean, just because you don't believe in ghosts doesn't mean you're not gonna see one.\\So, yeah. That's three things.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Original]]* Necro Critic states three things that could've been done to fix ''Film/SpiderMan3'' (paraphrased)-->1: Use any villain other than the Sandman.-->B: Stop focusing on Uncle Ben.-->Finally: Save Venom for the sequel.:: In fact he's been doing the "1, B,..." thing in a lot of his videos.* Spencer in the ''WebVideo/{{lonelygirl15}}'' episode "What Up Blogosphere!":-->"First of all, thank you for flooding my account with hundreds of emails. This sparked the attention of the I.T. department at Neutrogena, who said those emails blocked up our server. Last night, upper level management fired me. Just kidding. Hehehe... dry wit. Um... so, B: yes, I saw the video with you and my dad's 'friend'. Go Dad! Just kidding. Three, ah, I'm sympathetic to your need to find this Bree girl, but honestly, I can't help you. I don't know who her dad is, and my father never discussed his work with me. And, although I'm a scientist like him, I have no idea what compound you guys are talking about. So, D, and last but not least: everyone. Stop. Trying. To contact. Me!"* In ''WebVideo/LovelyLittleLosers'', Balthazar can't tell a concise story to save his life. In particular, the video "Relatives and Reunions" is just two minutes of Balth telling a rambling story to Ben, to make the mildly interesting point that he is (kind of) related to Beatrice.-->'''Balthazar:''' Do you need me to explain it again?-->'''Ben:''' ''No!''[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]* Shows up once or twice in ''WesternAnimation/CowAndChicken''.-->'''The Red Guy:''' What do I know about Supercow? A: She's a superhero. 2: She speaks Spanish...* In ''WesternAnimation/TheSpectacularSpiderMan'', [[JerkAss Flash Thompson]] does the usual A-then-2 speech to Peter Parker when convincing him to help him get a girl to notice him.* [[TropeOverdosed Epic]] ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' example:-->'''Sokka:''' Uhm...So, as you know today we're invading the Fire Nation. I mean, I know you know that. Because otherwise why else would you be here? Anyway... The Fire Lord's palace is here. Uh no, wait, wait, wait. It's here. And uh there's an eclipse today and Aang's going to fight the Fire Lord and the firebenders won't have any fire to use so that's good for us and uhm... I'm sorry, let me start at the beginning. (composes himself.) <MotorMouth>Katara and I discovered Aang frozen in an iceberg. Now I didn't like Aang at first but I grew to love him over time. Then we went over to the Southern Air Temple where Aang used to live and then we met Suki, who is a Kyoshi warrior. She dressed me like a woman and then she kissed me and then Aang's friend was a crazy old man and then Katara got Haru arrested and then now he's grown a mustache and if you look in the front row you can see it...** Note that Sokka is meant to be outlining a specific battle plan, but resorts to 'explaining from the beginning', literally, when he gets confused. His dad then 'clarifies' the plan.** And by "explaining from the beginning", we mean he gave a (pretty succinct) recap of the first six episodes, with all signs pointing to him reciting all 49 if he hadn't been interrupted.** Two episodes later, Zuko tries to outline his reasons for approaching the Gaang. Emphasis on ''tries''. His nervousness means his pre-rehearsed speech goes belly up.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Other]]* Creator/RogerEbert does one (probably unintentionally) in [[http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110302/REVIEWS/110309997 this]] review of ''WesternAnimation/{{Rango}}''.-->"Rango" loves Westerns. Beneath its comic level is a sound foundation based on innumerable classic Westerns, in which (a) the new man arrives in town, (2) he confronts the local villain, and (3) he faces a test of his heroism.* Throughout the German-speaking counties, the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmund_Stoiber former Minister President of Bavaria Edmund Stoiber]] grew [[MemeticMutation absolutely infamous]] for his propensity to horribly muck up his speeches (like [[https://youtu.be/bMUxRA4B9GE?t=30s this]] one, during which he ''tries'' to promote the expansive construction of a monorail linking Munich Central Station with Munich International Airport), borne of an [[ForgetfulJones apparent lack of short-time memory]] in combination with an [[MotorMouth inability to shut up]] and severe [[OpenMouthInsertFoot Foot In Mouth Disease]]. [[/folder]]